Reviews tagging 'War'

El viento conoce mi nombre by Isabel Allende, Isabel Allende

14 reviews

lovelyoutliers's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

A beautiful, empathetic story weaving together experiences of family separation and tragedy separated by half a century - a young boy (Samuel) sent on the kinder transport after Kristallnacht on the kindertransport trains and a young girl (Anita) who was separated from her mother at the US-Mexico border. 

Sensitively weaving stories of loss, the obstacles people will face to find safe places, and how families can be built in many different ways. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation

Moderate: Murder, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Grief, Pedophilia, Antisemitism, Violence, War, and Trafficking

notsogabbygabby's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Child death, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, War, Deportation, Pedophilia, Racism, Trafficking, Death of parent, Death, Genocide, and Child abuse

lilcubana31's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse

Moderate: War, Xenophobia, and Violence

Minor: Trafficking and Child death

bendercath's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I have read several of Isabel Allende’s books and I always finish having learned something new — often about humans’ capacity for violence and humans’ capacity for healing. This did not disappoint. Before reading this, I did not recognize the parallels between the Kindertransport and children separated from their parents at the US border. I was aware of both. But this novel has intertwined the two in the form of Samuel and Anita … and I will not forget them. While overwhelming at times, this book presents people whose courage and compassion help to heal “the holes in the hearts” of Samuel and Anita. There is hope in this book. 
I was very grateful for a little magical realism sprinkled in with Anita’s narration to her younger sister and the world she created to cope with unimaginable pain. This book will stay in my heart for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Genocide

Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence

sharonxx's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, War, and Abandonment

kathyovalle01's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, War, Murder, Genocide, Deportation, Child death, Violence, Misogyny, and Antisemitism

elyssam's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A good but harrowing read. The ending felt a little rushed but was solid. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: War, Child death, Xenophobia, and Deportation

flowerrunner's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read this book in Spanish and found it to be a page turner at the same time as it feeling tedious in parts. 

I think the issue could be that somewhere between 60 and 80 percent it feels very drawn out, followed by a hastier end.

It feels a little odd to draw parallels between the holocaust and the situation at the Mexican border, but this may be because I'm Austrian and pretty traumatized by what happened in my country of birth (I have lived in North America for decades now.). The way these two stories met at the end just didn't seem important enough to base a whole book on its premise.

Overall, the book is very engaging, and I'd recommend it - I enjoyed the character driven approach. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Rape, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Car accident, Child abuse, War, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, Body horror, Deportation, Domestic abuse, and Genocide

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, Infidelity, and Mental illness

Minor: Fatphobia, Dementia, Excrement, Medical content, Vomit, Alcohol, and Body shaming

soupqueen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Isabel tells more than shows, but the characters are engaging and the story is heart-wrenching. Could be a quick read if you wanted, or you can sit with it for a while.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Trafficking, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Grief, Rape, Stalking, Death, Genocide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pedophilia, and War

Minor: Deportation

moondreaming's review against another edition

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Deportation, and War

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Police brutality, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape